This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[parsifal]

chris, there is no record that i know of showing a British DD or indeed any light warship in that general classification being sunk by shore base ground fire that day (23 May). Ill check the days subsequent to that, and see if I can find a correlation that fits.

Sorry to be a pain....


Edit. From the detailed events notes on the 23rd, it could possibly be the KEITH that the germans were referring to. She was reported as hit by a mortar round as she departed the quay, this could conceivably be the alleged hits "sunk" claim by the Mk IV crew.

23 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Channel
DD VIMIERA escorted Brit steamers KOHISTAN and BENLAWERS to Calais with tanks and MT for the troops ashore. Steamer KOHISTAN got away from Calais the next day with a large number of troops and wounded and arrived at Dover on the 24th. DD WINDSOR brought the 30th Bde to Calais on Brit steamers ARCHANGEL and ROYAL DAFFODIL screened on their trip across the channel by DDs KEITH and WHITSHED. DD VENETIA from Nore Cmd joined DD WINDSOR at Calais. DD VERITY arrived at Dover early on the 23rd from Boulogne with Gen Brownrigg, and his staff, to clarify the situation. VERITY departed Dover and arrived at Calais at 2300 bringing the commander of the 1 Cdn XX, Maj Gen A. G.L. McNaughton. The General was to see if it were feasible to keep the B.E.F.'s line of communication (LOCs) open through Calais and/or Dunkirk. VERITY returned to Dover on the 24th with 2 General officers and 150 troops. DD WOLSEY escorted two hospital ships to Calais and remained there on guard duties. Approaching Dover on their return, WHITSHED was ordered to Boulogne. At Boulogne later that day were DDs KEITH , VIMY , WILD SWAN bombarding German targets continuously. Additionally off Boulogne was Fr DesFlot 2 with Contre torpilleur DDs LEOPARD and CHACAL and DDs CYCLONE, FOUGUEUX, BOURRASQUE, ORAGE, MISTRAL, FRONDEUR, SIROCCO, FOUDROYANT. Fr DD OURAGAN of this Flot was repairing at Brest and DDs BOULONNAISand BRESTOIS, after operations off Norway, were en route to the Med. This Flotilla, based at Brest, had already lost Contre Torpilleur DD JAGUAR and DD L'ADROIT in the past few days. In late afternoon, DDs VENETIA, VIMIERA, VENOMOUS arrived from Dover to reinforce ships off Boulogne. DD VIMY landeda party of 200 seamen and a detachment of Royal Marines to restore order in the harbour of Boulogne. The evacuation of Boulogne, Operation BUNGALOW, began with DDs KEITH and VIMY entering harbour. A bomb exploded on the quay next to KEITH inflicting moderate damaged casualties including a fatal injury to its commander from MG fire. . After embarking 180 troops, KEITH had to back out of the harbour stern first with a fire aft. In addition to the Captain, 7 ratings were killed and 28 men were wounded. DD VIMY, while embarking troops, sustained medium damage and her CO was mortally wounded, but was able to embark 150 troops. In addition to the CO, 1 crewman was killed and and 7 men wounded. Backing out of the harbour, destroyer KEITH was struck by a mortar shell on her forecastle. DDs WHITSHED and VIMIERA while standing off the harbour were attacked by German bombers. DD WHITSHED sustained light damage from near misses. 1 man was was killed 11 men wounded on WHITSHED.

Fr DD ORAGE was bombed and set afire 4 miles west of Boulogne and DD FRONDEUR was badly damaged by LW strikes off Boulogne. 28 crew were lost. DD ORAGE was later scuttled. RN DDs WHITSHED and VIMIERA entered Boulogne harbour next. Embarking troops, both DDs escaped further damage. DD WHITSHED embarked 580 troops and DD VIMIERA embarked 1955 troops in 2 trips. DDs WILD SWAN, VENOMOUS, VENETIA entered the harbour after WHITSHED and VIMIERA. WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS ran aground, but were able to get themselves off. VENETIA was seriously damaged with a hit on her B-gun platform. 21 crew were killed and 13 including the CO were wounded. VENETIA ran aground and was brought out of the harbour stern first, under the command of S/Lt D. H.Jones. DD WILD SWAN embarked 403 troops whilst VENOMOUS embarked 500 troops. VENETIA did not embark any troops. WINDSOR, off Calais, was ordered to Boulogne where she picked up 600, including 30 wounded.

Nth Atlantic
Acutely aware of the impending escort crisis for the Allies, worried what would happen should France drop out of the war, Churchill requests in desperation the RCN for all available DDs under their command to aid in operations in Home Waters. The RCN responds with nearly all of its blue water fleet. RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA and ST LAURENT depart Halifax on the 24th and arrived at Plymouth on the 31st. RCN DD FRASER, on patrol in the Caribbean, set off from Bermuda on the 26th and arrived at Plymouth on 3 June. RCN DD ASSINIBOINE, after refitting in April and May at Halifax, arrived at St Johns for docking at the end of May to complete at the end of the first week of June. RCN DD OTTAWA, which was damaged in a 10 April collision with Canadian tug BANSURF, was repairing at Halifax until mid June. DD SAGUENAY was long overdue for docking, in poor shape, unable to make the Atlantic crossing. In response they also lay down 8 modified Tribal class DDs (2 in 1940, comm 1942, 2 in 1941 comm 1943, 2 in 1943 comm 1944, and 1 each in 1943 and 44, completed 1945). The RAN already has sent its entire Destroyer forces, and has one DD under construction (the largest warship ever attempted in Australian shipyards. Two more Tribal class DDs are laid down in response to the crisis, and the RAN agrees to train crews for most of the "N" Class and pay for these ships as well). The two senior dominions engage in the construction of over 300 ASW escort vessels and the construction of more than 1 million tons of shipping for the British over a 2 year period. It was to require massive efforts and expenditure by these two countries, unmatched by any other minor power on any side).

Central Atlantic
SL.33 departed Freetown escorted by AMC BULOLO to 6 June. On 6 June, sloop LEITH and corvette ARABIS joined the convoy and escorted it to arrival on 9 June.

Med- Biscay
BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN, CL CALEDON, DDs DIAMOND and RAN VENDETTA departed Alexandria for Malta. These ships were joined on the 24th by British steamer NEVASA. British troopships ORONSAY arrived at Gib from Malta, escort DDs DOUGLAS and WISHART. She departed the next day for Liverpool, escort DD DOUGLAS. DOUGLAS was detached and joined British steamer WINDSOR CASTLE on the 26th. The steamer arrived at Gib on the 28th, escort DDs DOUGLAS and WISHART. Steamer WINDSOR CASTLE then departed and proceeded to Freetown. Fr Contre Tirpilleur DD LION departed Malta escorting British troopships OTRANTO and ORFORD to Toulon, arriving on the 24th. On the 25th, CL CALYPSO joined. Fr sub REDOUTABLE departed Casablanca escort PV PASCAL PAOLI. The sub arrived at Bizerte on the 27th.

 

[parsifal]

23 May RAF Air Operations
[UNFINISHED]

1 sqn (Hurri)
F/L F.E. Warcup, F/O D.S. Thorn and F/S A.V. Clowes share in the destruction of a He111. Time and location unknown.

15 sqn (Blen)
Airborne 1300 from Wyton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Morval (Pas-de-Calais), 7 km SSE of Bapaume, France. No survivors. A/C lost

24 sqn (DC-3) Over Calais it was hit by AA and part of the left wing was torn off. The pilot (Raymond Chartier) managed a forced landing near Arques. The navigator was killed and two of the passengers wounded, while Chartier was executed by German troops as he tried to reach French lines. The remaining passengers were taken prisoner including Plt Off Benson Freeman of 24 Squadron. The engineer, Piet Vrebos, survived the crash. The German troops took him POW, but sent him at home because he was a civilian.

32 sqn (Hurri)
Patrol, 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA. Bailed out near Arras, northern France. Shot down by Me 109's. Wounded, evacuated via Calais

40 sqn (Blen)
Arras-Boulogne 2 Planes lost, 4 KIA (incl S/L), 1 POW Airborne 1010 from Wyton. One of the lost a/c was shot down by Flak and crashed between Beuvry and Sailly-labourse Pas-de-Calais, the former 3 km ESE of Béthune, France. 1 crewman later returned safely to the Sqn, 2nd a/c Airborne 1010 from Wyton to attack enemy troop columns. Shot down at Miraumont (Somme), 13 km NNE of Albert, France. One aircrewe captured was interned in Camp L3, PoW

78 sqn (whitley)
Mission details not given 1 KIA, a/c damaged

81 sqn (Tiger Moth)
A/c and pilot lost in training accident

92 sqn (Spit)
Intercept, F. 3 Planes lost, 1 KIA, 1 MIA, 1 POW , Spits first met Bf-109s and Bf-110s on 23 May: 2 Me109s and 2 Me 110s were brought down, as were 3 Spits of 92 Sqn.

103 sqn (Battle)
Trier, 2 Planes lost
This night 5 a/c took part in night attacks in the Trier area. 2 a/c force landed but the crews were safe.

54 sqn (Spit)
P/O Alan C. Deere scored a first double success in unusual circumstances. He was one of 2 Spit plts detailed to escort a Miles Master —a two-seater training aircraft—that was attempting to rescue a British plt forced down at Calais-Marck, an airfield which by this time was in no-man's-land. The 3 a/c reached this airfield without incident, but just as the trainer - flown by 54 Sqn.'s F/Lt James A. Leathart - was taking off with its passenger, Deere's companion shouted over the radio that Messerschmitts were approaching. Almost at the same moment one of them dived on the Master but overshot. Deere at once turned on the Messerschmitt and fired two short bursts. It carried on for a short distance then crashed into the sea a few yards from the shore. He then brought down another German fighter which turned over on its back and crashed in Calais itself. An attack on a third Messerschmitt found Deere with his ammunition exhausted so he made for the nearest cloud and returned safely across the Channel. Meawhile, the Magister a/c and Deere's companion had destroyed at least two other German fighters, had also made good their escape.

 

[parsifal]

23 May - The BEF

Boulogne/Calais
After the previous days fighting in this sector near Boulogne, it was early on the 23rd that the germans finally succeeded in encircling Boulogne. This prevented the arrival of expected reinforcements from Calais and placed the Brigade HQ in danger. It was decided to evacuate the Brigade HQ staff. Which was completed late on the 23rd, on DD VERITY.

By Dawn, it was apparent the town was encircled, but worse the northern flank, to the left of the Welsh gds was inadequately defended. The field commander, Lt Col Foxx Pitt had managed to reinforce this northern flank with 800 pioneers and reinforce the two existing Bns with aboiut 150 more.
A dawn attack had been expected, but this did not materialize, as the germans were pre-occupied in reducing the two French manned flank forts to the nth and sth of the port. Later in the morning, the Germans organized an attack on both bns (the French wre still holding out), hitting the Welsh Gds first. Their position was heavily attacked by a mixed tank/infantry force, but despite surrounding one of the platoons, lost around 20 tanks to AT fire and were beaten back.

Following this, it was the turn of the Irish guardsmen again. Now they had all but expended their AT ammunition, and were forced to fight yet another combined arms assault, this time with rifles, brens and grenades. The Germans were again beaten off, with the fighting continuing well into the night, but losses to the irish Gds had been heavy.

That night dispatch riders finally got through to both these elite formations ordering them to withdraw to the port and evacuate. Evacuation would now be difficult, as the Germans had now wrested control of the flanking heights from the French garrison troops and their artilleryu could now pour fire directly into the city centre and port regions However with the cover of darkness, the DDs proceeded in pairs to the docks, collecting potions of the rearguard and departing the battle area. DDs VIMY, KEITHG, WHITSHED, VIMIERA, WILD SWAN, VENOMOUS VENETIA and WINDSOR, and a French contingent consisting of CYCLONE, ORAGE, and FRONDEUR all participated coming in close, firing 4.6" and 5" shells directly into the enemy (and doing much to break up the german assaults onto the docklands). For a time in the evening half light Stukas did much to disrupt the embarkation of the allied forces, delivering some vicious bombing attacks and causing the ORAGE to be scuttled due to damage. During this attack, as the Destroyers were returning fire into the now enemy fortress of Fort De La Creche (which at 2100 hours blew up) 6 Hurricanes dove through the attacking Stukas just as a second wave of attackers were arriving and forming up for yet another attack. The intercepting fighters caused a cheer to be raised from the allied soldiers and sailors alike as several stukas were lost and the attack they were preparing was broken up.

Just after 2100 hours, WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS moved into the docks to pick up the last of the Irish Guards rearguard. As they approached the docks in the low tide, they drew fire from almost every available German gun that could sight them. But the low tide and intervening structures essentially made the Destroyers a "Hull Down" target, making it hard for the German gunners to be effective. As the last of the Gurds were hurriedly being embarked,, the 4.7" guns of the DDs were working furiously to keep the assaulting Germans at bay. One group were advancing behind an advancing tank. The DDs were fired on, but their return fire was devastating , a 4.7" shell struck the tank blowing it apart. with a direct hit and sending the tank airborne in a complete somersault. A minute later the gunners spotted an enemy MG firing from the upper storey of a quayside hotel. The gunners silenced this position by blasting away the entire hotel floor where the MG nest had been located.

WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS cleared the harbour by 21:30. Immediately following them into the docks were DDs WINDSOR and VIMIERA. Both these ships carried out prodigious evacuation and gunfire support efforts. WINDSOR was slightly in front of VIMIERA and lifted off more than 600 soldiers, a proportion of which were wounded. The last warship to come alongside was the VIMIERA, she departed just before dawn with no less than 1400 soldier and civilians embarked. Many of the civilians were jews and Poles, who because of the known atrocities being committed by the Germans on their kin, were permitted to board . VIMIERA's load also included most of LtCol Deans pioneers, who to the end fought a series of extreme rearguard actions. These were among the british Armies finest moments of the campaign .

Not everyone got away. In the Ville Haute , General Lanquetots troops from the 21st Div fought on as dawn broke and fought back the attempts to dislodge them. At 1000 hrs the germans delivered an ultimatum, if the French did not surrender immediately, the town would be leveled and the townsfolk would be executed . The French defenders elected to surrender to spare the lives of the civilians.

The man on whose shoulders rested the defence of Calais was colonel RT Holland. The forces at his disposal initially comprised a single platoon of Inf from the 6th Argyllstogether with an LAA detachment and searchlight gp. There was also a french garrison manning the citadel, and a few CA btys manned by fr sailors. At dawn on the 22nd the 3rd RTR arrived with 27 A9 cruisers attached. It took until the 23rd to complete disemabarkation for theser vehicles where they moved to their laager positions 2 miles outside the city. However once again poor leadership intervened. Holland learned that he was not to be given this priceless asset after all, they were to proceed to the St Omer line to assist in the defence there. and not hit the flanks of the advancing 10 Pz XX as expected.

The French perspective

On 23rd May, the 2.PzD completes the encirclement of Boulogne. The 1.PzD is again blocked by the 1st battalion of the 65e RI at Alincthun, east of Boulogne and cannot move on until 22h00.
At 2h00, the Germans assault the fort of La Crèche, which falls at 9h45 despite the intervention of 3 French torpedo-boats at 7h45 (Siroco, Mistral and Cyclone). After the German success, 5 French ships (Cyclone, Siroco, Mistral, Léopard and Chacal) and HMS Vimy fire on the fort.
The German troops try to seize the harbor to prevent any reinforcement or evacuation but they are defeated.

The situation is nonetheless critical with the numeric superiority of the Germans. The situation is even worsening more because the British troops are withdrawing at the end of the morning and prepare to be evacuated. The evacuation operation involves only British troops and ships while the French troops continue to fight. 4,368 British soldiers are evacuated between 23rd May afternoon and 24th May at 2h45. 6 out of 7 British destroyers are damaged by the Luftwaffe and the German artillery. The losses are important and the commander of the British destroyer fleet is KIA.

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[parsifal]

23 May - The BEF (Part II)

Calais
Meanwhile in England, 30 Bde had also received orders to embark for Calais. This brigade had been formed for ops in Norway, consisting of 1 Bn (QVR) 2 Bns (KRRC), bridaded under the command of Brigadier Nicholson.

The QVR (Queen Victoria Rifles) were the first to arrive, in the afternoon of thew 22nd. They were immediately sent out to set up road block to all entrances, and turnb away the sea of refugees heading for the port, a heart wrenching task. The main elements of the Bde did not arrive until afternoon of the 23rd. The Bde commander enroute had conferred with Adm Dover (ramsay) and Brownrigg, where is was agreed to send the force to Calais where it as hoped it might be able to relieve the pressure on the Boulogne garrison. Overnight, these orders were changed....a microcosm of the sheer confusion affecting all Allied operations at this time. Nicholson received fresh instructions to force a way to Dunkirk, to deliver vital supplies to the beleagured forces there. Nicholson dutifully set about the task, organising forces and transport for the task. A lead element with 4 tanks and some infantry was sent out overnight, driving past the laagered german 10 Pz armour, and reaching Gravelines where they joined other british troops. By now with dawn approaching, and much German activity all around them the platoon commander coolly reported the results of his recon, before pulling his entiore force out. These troops made it back to Calais unharmed.

Meanwhile Mj Gen McNaughton of the Cdn 1st Div arrived with direct orders from the CIGS to assess the feasibility of resupplying and holding Calais and Dunkirk to support and extended siege of the BEF. McNaughtonbs report was unequivocally that it was not possible, consequently new orders were issued to Nicholson that he was to commence evacuation of all personnel except fighting personnel. This signal, issued by Gen RH Dewing director of operations was to have very significant repercussions.

Despite the evacuation orders, Nicholson decided to attempt the relief effort to dunkirk....which occurred on the following day


Dunkirk Sector
On the 23 may with the Battle for Boulone raging, and the enemy poised for the assault on Calais, the allied commanders within the cauldron were realizing with sudden apprehension the threats being posed to their lines of communication, though it would take some days for their respective higher commands and govts to reach the same conclusion.

It was fortunate that the Allies were falling back onto Dunkirk. The third largest port in France, it boasted 7 deep water basins 4 dry docks and more than 5 miles of quayside berths. Surrounding it was a flat expanse that could be flooded and a series of old forts which were considered (and proven by unfolding events) to have great resistance to modern HE fire.

Apart from air attacks, which to this point had been sporadic and ineffective, the enemy threat to Dunkirk was not immediate. The nearest enemy units were nearly 20 miles away , at St Omer, and had not yet reached the Aa canal.. The possibility of a speedy breakthrough in this sector had receded. In the post war revision of history, it is often portrayed that the Germans were the sole deciders as to when and how Dunkirk was to be taken. To an extent that is true, but there was also the level of resistance being mounted by the allies in front of Dunkirk that played into this matter. In summary there was a short pause and stabilisation of the front.

News of the aborted French counterattack at Cambrai reached Gort on the 23rd. it seems that from this point he became utterly convinced there was no longer any possibility of a coherent Allied stand. It was a feeling that had been gathering momentum for the last three days, particularly after the bombastic cables he had received from Churchill

 

[Njaco]

chris, there is no record that i know of showing a British DD or indeed any light warship in that general classification being sunk by shore base ground fire that day (23 May). Ill check the days subsequent to that, and see if I can find a correlation that fits.

Sorry to be a pain....

I agree and I was hesitant to post that but I'm thinking that it was a smaller craft that they thought was a "destroyer'. That marking was definitely painted for a reason. I will remove for now.

Oh and I brought May 23 down here! Did you miss May 23?

 

[Njaco]

May 23 Thursday
WESTERN FRONT: The German 6.Armee crossed the Scheldt River in Belgium. General Rundstedt, commanding Heeresgruppe A, orders his tank forces to halt their advance. Despite this order German 2.Panzerdivision attacks Boulogne, triggering the evacuation of the British 20th Guards Brigade which has just arrived. German 1.Panzerdivision's forward elements reached Calais, effectively cutting off British, French and Belgian forces from the rest of France. British 3rd Royal Tank Regiment (equipped with cruiser tanks) and the 30th Motor Brigade land at Calais and hold off probing attacks by the 1.Panzerdivision. British General Lord Gort withdrew his troops from Arras despite being able to halt Rommel's momentum. Owing to this retreat the planned Allied counteroffensive is postponed. It is becoming clear to the British generals in France that an evacuation by sea is probably going to be necessary. The Allies begin building defensive positions around Dunkirk.

Several British and French destroyers are bombed until RAF fighters arrive at 1920 hours. However, Germans are so close that tank shells and small arms fire claim several lives on the ships, including the captains of HMS "Keith" and HMS "Vimy". 4,360 troops are rescued (naval losses; 61 dead, 62 wounded).

The fighters of JG 27 are charged with protecting Bf 110 Zerstörer units over Calais-Dunkirk. Eighteen Allied aircraft are shot down with three going to Hptm. Balthasar and two to Oblt. Franzisket - two BEF Hurricanes - to bring his score to six kills. But the Luftwaffe also lose pilots and aircraft. Six Bf 109's from I./JG 1 and I./JG 27 are shot down with two pilots killed, one injured and three taken prisoner including Lt. Keller of 2./JG 27, who crash lands a second time near Hirson.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-9 torpedoed and sank the captured (by Belgium on 10 May) German steamer "Sigurd Faulbaum" 15 miles northeast of Zeebrugge, Belgium.

UNITED KINGDOM: Arrests began for British fascists across the United Kingdom as well as known IRA operatives in Northern Ireland. The former leader of the British Union of Fascists, Sir Oswald Mosley, is arrested. 747 other British Union members were arrested (including ninety-six women including Lady Diana) and interned without charge. Also detained is a Member of Parliament, Captain Ramsay because he has been connected with the Right Club.

NORTH AMERICA: United States President Roosevelt wins the Democratic primary in Vermont and is now certain to receive his party's nomination for the November elections.

NORTHERN EUROPE: 1(F)./122 operated a He 111 over the Tromso-Harstad-Oforfjord-Skaanland area and as a result of this mission, and that of a Fw 200 of 1./KG 40, bombing sorties were flown by KGr 100, KG 26 and KG 30 throughout the day against the naval shipping identified by the reconnaissance missions.

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[Njaco]

May 24 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: The German attacks on Boulogne continue. Farther along the coast they are also attacking Calais. The German 10.Panzerdivision began the attack on Calais and captured the town of Boulogne (capturing 5,000 Allied troops), Maubeuge, and Saint-Omer. The Royal Navy is active in support of the British forces in both towns. During the day and later in the night destroyers are used to evacuate 5000 men from Boulogne and over the next three days two light cruisers and seven destroyers are in support near Calais. There are also German attacks on the line of the Lys and around Tournai. To the north, the German 1.Panzerdivision reached the Aa Canal 10 miles from Dunkerque in an attempt to cut off the Allied troops in Belgium. Only 1 BEF battalion defends Dunkirk. At this key moment, Adolf Hitler interfered and ordered the tanks to pull back. Hitler ordered Walther von Brauchitsch, army commander in chief, to halt the panzers along the Bassée Canal, specifically to remain at medium artillery range from Dunkirk. No one knows exactly why. Generals Brauchitsch and Halder rail against the order but are told it comes from the very top. Even Guderian, who has bent and ignored orders to get to the coast, had no choice but to comply. Under Hitler's orders, German forces halt outside of Dunkirk. They have reached the line Gravelines - Omer - Bethune. Although the ground north of here is not well suited to armed action the Allied defenses are weak. General Göring convinces the Führer that the Luftwaffe can demolish the remaining Allied forces on the beaches. German fighters are rushed to the area and bombers are ordered to destroy the harbor areas.

German Heeresgruppe A Commander Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt begins issuing orders for his panzer tank divisions to halt their advance in France, due to losses and maintenance problems.

German troops captured Ghent and Tournai, Belgium. King Léopold of Belgium informs four Government ministers he would stay with the Army in Belgium, capitulating to the Germans if necessary. The plans for the Allied counteroffensive depend on the Belgians being able to take over a longer section of the front but with this pressure they will not be able to do so.

British Lieutenant Christopher Furness, the son of Viscount Furness, was killed in hand to hand fighting near Arras, France after his Bren gun carrier group engaged a vastly superior enemy force in order to allow a convoy to escape. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

The German advance is so fast that the Jagdgeschwader are having a hard time keeping up with the action. An example of this is I./JG 27 led by Max Ibel, who are ordered to overtake the airfield at St. Omer, twelve miles from Dunkirk. But as the Stab flight of Bf 109s approach to land, they find the airfield still under attack by both the Germans and the Allies. With the last bit of fuel in their tanks, the Gruppe manages to land further south at St. Pol and begin escorting bombers over Dunkirk.

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[Njaco]

May 24 Friday (continued)
GERMANY: Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 13. The objective is to annihilate French, English, and Belgian forces surrounded in Artois and Flanders. The Air Force is to prevent the escape of English forces across the Channel. The Air Force is authorized to attack England to the fullest when sufficient forces are available. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/13.html

NORTH AMERICA: Royal Canadian Navy destroyers "Restigouche", "St. Laurent", "Skeena", and "Fraser" head to the United Kingdom to aid the Royal Navy.

NORTHERN EUROPE: With the BEF trapped in Belgium and the British Isles potentially under threat of invasion, British War Cabinet decides to bring home their remaining troops in Norway. They inform French General Béthouart, in command of the attack, who decides to continue with the capture of Narvik anyway before evacuation. The Supreme War Council agrees to capture Narvik and destroy the port facilities before they will evacuate. Ironically the airfield at Bardufoss has only just received its first complement of British aircraft and already the campaign seems less one-sided, showing what might be done. The Norwegians are not yet told of the decision to leave.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-37 sank Greek ship "Kyma" 200 miles west of Brest, France at 0248 hours, killing 7. Aboard were 6,000 tons of corn and 90 tons of trucks from Argentina to Britain.

German aircraft sank British destroyer "Wessex" off the coast of Calais, France.

CENTRAL AMERICA: The President of Panama expressed support for the Dominican Republic in terms of the 8 Mar 1940 incident where a Canadian destroyer attacked German freighter Hannover in Dominic Republic's territorial waters. He called for the Chairman of the Inter-American Neutrality Committee in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to investigate this violation of the Pan-American Neutrality Zone.

UNITED KINGDOM: The Luftwaffe attacks the United Kingdom during the night. Seven HEs were dropped at South Bank and Middlesbrough. Slight damage was done to buildings, gas mains and overhead cables. Dorman Longs was hit by one bomb and eight people were injured but there was little material damage and production wasn't affected. Two of the bombs fell on the Cargo Fleet Works, there were no casualties and little damage. Middlesbrough was the first industrial town, and Dorman Long's the first industrial plant, to be bombed. Six bombs were dropped on Catterick Aerodrome, but no damage was reported.

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[parsifal]

I agree and I was hesitant to post that but I'm thinking that it was a smaller craft that they thought was a "destroyer'. That marking was definitely painted for a reason. I will remove for now.

Oh and I brought May 23 down here! Did you miss May 23?

Nah, my bad, the date I posted is a mistake.....

Id retain it actually. Its interesting, even it might be incorrect. perhaps alter the text to include the words "claimed". Obviously something happened that day, and anyone in a tank engaging a warship is still gutsy in my book.


EDIT:

I found this discussion on the Axis History Forum

Panzer versus Destroyer, fact or fiction? - Axis History Forum

Varjag;

The panzers in question were two Pz IV Ds of Olt. v. Jarowski's kompanie of Panzer Regiment 3, 2. Panzer Division (which kompanie/Abteilung this is I do not know). The event is described in the Regimrnt War Diary, accompanied by two photographs. While the battle took place on 23 May, the photos were taken on 25 May. One shows Feldwebel Langhammer with the aforementioned destroyer "tally" painted on his tank, and the other is the wreck of the believed vessel. The wreck photograph is clearly of the French contre-torpilleur Chacal, which was actually bombed and sunk by He-111 aircraft on 24 May in the same general area as the events of 23 May.

The battle, as described, was against a French destroyer attempting to land troops. In the event, the French warships in the harbour, elements of the 2ème flotille de torpilleurs including Cyclone, Mistral, and Siroco of the 6ème division, Orage and Bourrasque of the 4ème division, and Frondeur and Fougeux of the 2ème flotille, along with the Chacal and Jaguar of the 2ème Division de Contre-Torpilleurs intent on landing demolition parties and evacuating personnel. The German tanks actually duelled with Mistral which, with Siroco, retired to the outer harbor exactly as desribed by the German report after they had debarked the intended personnel. Shortly thereafter, Orage and Frondeur were attacked by a large formation of Ju-87 Stukas and the former was sunk, her fires evidently being sighted ashore. Her survivors were rescued by Frondeur and Bourrasque. The next day the contre-torpilleur Chacal was bomber and sunk by a formation of He-111s. The wreck was beached in basically the same area that that Orage had be sunk the day before. That same day the port surrendered. The day after, the panzer troops, exploring the area, came upon Chacal's wreck and assumed that fires caused by their guns had resulted in her loss.

It took considerable research, for me in the USA, to find French sources that described the actions of the ships in the area but, when located, the events fell together in a fashion that jived firly well with the German account, especially given the limited "vision" the small numbers of tankers engaged in a limited battle with but a single element of a rather large number of French warships performing a multitude of tasks under all kinds of enemy fire - including, but not limited too, tanks, artillery, small arms, and aircraft bombing!

Hope this helps.

Mark E. Horan

 

[parsifal]

24 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
70' Elco Type PT 17

PT 10 was the lead boat of this class of PT Boats. it was transferred to the RN in May 1941, being known as MTB 266

Allied
Didi class CLA HMS BONAVENTURE

Flower Class Corvette SUNFLOWER

Losses
MV KYMA (Gk 3994 grt) Crew: 30 (7 dead and 23 survivors) Cargo: 6000 tons of maize and 90 tons of trucks Route: Rosario - St. Vincent - Avonmouth Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 0248 hrs on 24 May 1940 the unescorted and neutral KYMA was hit by a torpedo from U-37 and sank about 175 miles Sth of Cape Clear. The U-boat attacked the ship without warning despite visible neutrality markings because she was heading for a British port within the blockade area. The survivors abandoned ship in a lifeboat, were spotted by an a/c from St. Eval in the afternoon and reported to HMS ENCHANYTRSS who rescued them later that day

Contre Torpilleur DD CHACAL (Fr 2126 grt) , after delivering the demolition party to Calais, arrived off Boulogne and was sunk off Cape d' Alprecht by the LW. Fr DD FOUGUEUX was badly damaged by bombing in the same attack but survived. Fr SCs CH.5 and CH.42 rescued the 21 survivors of CHACAL. The surviving DDs of Fr DesFlot2 were ordered withdrawn from Boulogne to Cherbourg.

Off Calais, DD WESSEX (RN 1100 grt) was sunk by the LW when she was struck by 3 bombs between the funnels. 6 ratings were killed or died of wounds, 15 were wounded. The survivors were rescued by DD VIMIERA. MSW trawler JOHN CATTLING picked up 6 crew from a Carley float.

Steamer BRIGHTON (UK 2391 grt) was sunk by the LW at Dieppe Quay. BRIGHTON had been bombed and badly damaged on the 21st. There was no crew aboard her on the 24th.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Aux MSW LA MATELOT (Fr 260 grt) was sunk by the LW and Aux MSW ETOILE DE NORD (Fr 317 grt) was sunk in mining at Dunkirk.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-122 (for minor repairs)

Departures
Wilhelmshaven, Germany: U-122

At Sea 24 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-26, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-56, U-60, U-62, U-101, U-122.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
6 Tribal class DDs to be joined by DD TARTAR were designated to form a Striking Force at Rosyth. Sub SHARK and Fr sub SYBILLE arrived Rosyth after patrol. Sub SPEARFISH arrived at Blyth after patrol. Fr sub AMAZONE docked at Rosyth. OA.154 departed Southend escorted by sloop ABERDEEN. OB.154 departed Liverpool escort sloop SANDWICH from 24 to 27 May. The convoy dispersed on the 28th. FN.179 departed Southend, escort DD WALPOLE. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 26th.

Northern Waters
CL ENTERPRISE departed Harstad with the remaining 19 tons of Norwegian gold reserves. Despite air attacks by the LW en route, the cruiser safely arrived at Scapa Flow on the 26th. The following day she proceeded to Greenock where the gold was offloaded. Cruiser ENTERPRISE continued on to Plymouth, arriving on the 29th for refitting. The cruiser was under refit from 31 May to 22 June. DDs ANTELOPE and BRAZEN arrived at Scapa after having been detached from ARK ROYAL's screen.
The carrier itself was delayed by fog. DD ATHERSTONE at Lerwick was ordered to investigate a direction finding reading. Fog hindered the unsuccessful search so the DD returned to Scapa Flow on the 26th.
West Coast UK
CV ILLUSTRIOUS was completed (some sources say 25th May). ILLUSTRIOUS departed Liverpool on the 24th. DDs ESCORT, VANOC, WITHERINGTON departed the Clyde at 0300 and rendezvoused with ILLUSTRIOUS off the Bar Light Vessel for acceptance trials. The British ships arrived in the Clyde late on the 25th.

CA SUSSEX departed the Clyde after refitting and arrived at Scapa Flow on the 25th.

Western Approaches
DesFlot 9 returned to the Western Approaches Command.

Channel
DDs BRAZEN, BASILISK, BULLDOG were returned to the Nore Command. DD BULLDOG departed Scapa for Harwich to rejoin the Nore Command. BRAZEN departed Scapa for Rosyth to boiler clean prior to rejoining the Nore Command. DDs BASILISK and MATABELE departed Greenock at 1130 for Devonport. BASILISK repaired brickwork and boiler cleaned at Devonport. After repairs, the destroyer proceeded to the Nore Command. MATABELE continued on to Falmouth to repair grounding damage. DD WOLVERINE departed Greenock for Plymouth to make good defects.

UK-France
Late on the 23rd, DD VIMIERA on her second trip picked up the last of the Boulogne evacuaees, some 800 Fr and Belgian troops. DD WESSEX operated off Boulogne but did not enter the harbour. Some 200 troops had to be left behind and were captured by German forces on the 24th. At 0200, VIMIERA and WESSEX arrived at Dover, they were the only two undamaged destroyers of the Dover Command. Vice Adm Sir James Somerville KCB, DSO, commanded the British Calais support force. DDs GRAFTON and GREYHOUND and ORP DD BURZA , on patrol off Aldeburgh, were ordered to Dover. They then set off to Calais to provide fire support for the British troops ashore. CLs ARETHUSA and GALATEA departed Portsmouth to operate in the area in support roles, but returned when they found they could not arrive off Calais before dark.

Destroyers WOLFHOUND and VIMIERA departed Dover for Calais at 1000. ORP DD BURZA was damaged by two bombs exploding in the water very near her bows in the same action as sank the WESSEX. The concussion also damaged her superstructure and she could only steam 3-4 knots stern first. One rating was killed. DD VERITY and tug LADY BRASSEY arrived on the scene to assist BURZA, but she was able to proceed under her own power. BURZA departed Dover on the 25th towed by two tugs and escorted by ASW trawler KINGSTON OLIVINE. She was taken to Portsmouth for repairs which were completed on 27 July. DD VIMIERA was bombed and damaged off Calais. VIMIERA was withdrawn for repairs which were completed in 10 days. VIMIERA arrived at Scapa Flow for escort duties on 9 June. MSW trawler JOHN CATTLING was sent to Calais to act as a W/T link.

DDs WOLSEY and WINDSOR departed Dover with demolition parties for Le Havre, and were then sent to Calais before returning to Dover. DDs WOLFHOUND and VERITY were ordered to bring ammunition to Calais for the British troops encircled there. VERITY, after assisting ORP DD BURZA, also landed a Royal Marine Guard to protect the harbour. MTB.25 proceeded to Calais with primers for the demolition charges. After bombing SW of Calais, a Swordfish of 825 Sqn was shot down, with the crew killed. DDs GALLANT, JACKAL, JAVELIN, JAGUAR screened 6 MSW trawlers, which had also been used in operation QUIXOTE on the 20th, cutting the telegraph cables between Lowestoft, Benacre, Aldeburgh on the East Coast and Zaandvoort and Domburg in Operation QUENTIN. Tug DAPPER was sent from Dover to assist British steamer BHUTAN which had been badly damaged in a collision.

Nth Atlantic
HX.45 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs SAGUENAY, SKEENA, ST LAURENT, which were detached on the 25th. BHX.45 departed Bermuda on the 23rd escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of AMC RAJPUTANA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.45 on the 29th and the AMC was detached. The ocean escort for the convoy was AMC VOLTAIRE which joined the convoy on the 24th. The AMC was detached on 4 June. On 5 June, sloop SANDWICH and corvette PERIWINKLE joined the convoy. On 6 June, the corvette was detached and the sloop was detached on 7 June. Corvette HIBISCUS joined the convoy on 7 June and escorted it to its arrival at Liverpool on 8 June.

Med- Biscay
CLA CARLISLE, DDs KANDAHAR, KHARTOUM, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO arrived at Suez from the Med as convoy escorts for Red Sea shipping. Fr sloops ANNAMITE, SURPRISE, which was escorting steamers CHANTILLY and COMPIEGNE, GAZELLE, CHAMOIS passed Gib en route from Brest to Algiers, where they arrived on the 25th.

Indian Ocean
RAN CL HOBART arrived at Port Sudan.

 

[parsifal]

24 May 1940 - RAF Operations

15 sqn (Blen)
Aa Canal, B - 1 plane lost; 2 KIA, 1 DOW, Airborne 1745 from Alconbury. On return to base at 2100 the port engine seized when low on final approach and the Blenheim spun in, killing the entire crew.

58, 77, 102 sqns (Whitley), 61 sqn (Hampden) ?? sqn (Wellington)
Operating as part of 5 Gp, the sqn was part of a raid consisting of 50 Hampdens, 48 Wellingtons and 24 Whitleys bomb communications and transport targets in Germany, Holland, Belgium and France. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost

Bombing - road/rail communications at Avesnes, Maubeuge, Aulnoye and La Capelle.

73 sqn (Hurri)
After shooting down 1 Me 110, F/O H B Bell-Syer bailed out after his aircraft was damaged in combat with another Me 110. A/c lost and pilot burned and hospitalised

74 sqn (Spit)
1 a/c lost, 1 MIA no other details

103 sqn (Battle)
Relocated again, I think to an area called Fumay(?)

106 sqn (Hampden)
cross-country flight, UK. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA, Collided with a balloon cable in Coventry while on a cross-country flight

54 sqn (Spit)
9 enemy a/c shot down
No. 54 Squadron, experienced its first big air battle when it engaged two large bomber formations escorted by Me 110s. In the many dogfights which followed 9 German a/c were destroyed, with an additional four probables. Of these Deere was credited with 1 Me 110 destroyed and Gray (top scorer for NZ) with a probable, in what was his first combat. Now for the first time', noted the German General Halder in his diary on 24 May, 'enemy air superiority has been reported by Kleist.' And on the same day the War Diary of the German 19 Corps recorded: 'Enemy fighter resistance is so strong that our own air reconnaissance was practically impossible.'

 

[parsifal]

24 May 1940 - The BEF

Dunkirk Sector
General Fagalde commander of the French XVI corps begins the movement of one of his divisions to bolster the Aa canal position . He receives a direct message from Weygand, appointing him as the supreme commander of the Channel Port defences. He immediately travels to Dunkirk to inspect the defences and discuss with Adm Abrial. . He finds the principal defences built around 272 demi Bde, 2 further training bns and a labour group a regt equivalent. Arriving are the remnants of 5 Inf Bns from the shattered 21st inf XX. He has, at his disposal 6 btys of 75 and 155mm guns..

Fagalde also meets Gen McNaughton of the Cdn 1st Div. Fagalde took Mcnaughtons arrival as an indicator of the impending arrival of the Canadians. McNaughton gives no indication as to his role which is, in fact to report directly to the CIGs on the situation. He reports that the problem in Dunkirk is not troop numbers, or even equipment, but lack of organization and confusion. McNaughtons appraisal was repeated by Brig Parminter, officer in charge of the distribution of the still arriving stores to the front. He noted the utter lack of organisation and lack of a clear chain of command. Nevertheless, it has to be said that Parminter still manageed to distribute over 500 tons of supplies on this day alone.

On the 23rd, Fagalde learnt that the germans had already reached the Aa at St Omer, and accorfingly decided to position his 68th XX (already moving) only as far as Yser, Early on the 24th the 68th pushed a few miles further so as to occupy the Mardyck canal, midway between Dunkirk and the Aa.

So far there had been little communication between Fagaldein his new capacity and Gort, However thjis began from the 24th, and on that day, gort ordered the 144th Bde out of the line, and to organise or reinforce the exposed southern flank of the Port Defences. Its commander Bgdier Thorne conferred with CO 68Div, and agreed to place his unit on the left flank of the French Div, and also to organise a defence of the Bergues Furnes canal, which included a vital strong point. This whole canal system and the strongpoint was a vital key to defending Dunkirk. The task of defending this section was given to "Usherforce", a composite unit built around the 6th Green Howards. There were also the 1st and 3rd super heavy art btys in support. Allied defences in front of Dunkirk were not fully emplaced however, until the 26th, they needed some time to delay the German advance in order to even temporarily hold open the port for evacuation.

Calais
Fagalde immediately reverses the order to evacuate Calais, and appoints Nicholson as station commander. Churchill endorses the order. Churchill sends a message via Ismay to the War Office: "(I am) informed that an order was sent at 2am to Calais saying that evacuation was decided in principle, but this is surely madness. The only effect of evacuation would be to transfer the forces blockading it to Dunkirk. Calais must be held for many reasons, but specially to pin the enemy on its front".

The first Nicholson learnt of the changed plan was in thge early hours of 25th May, when DD Wolfhound after completion of it bombardment, landed Adm Somerville (the very man 24 hrs previously advising of the evacuation) to deliver the following message in peson:

"In spite of the policy of evacuation handed to you this morning , British forces in your area are now under Gen Fagalde, who has ordered no, repeat, no evacuation. You must comply for the sake of allied solidarity. Your role is therefore to hold on , even though the harbour at present is of no importance to the BEF. Bde Gp from 48 XX has started marching to your assistance . No reinformcements by sea but ammo coming".

It was a most unsatisfactory order, and drew the displeasure of Churchill almost immediately

 

[Njaco]

May 25 Saturday
WESTERN FRONT: With 1.Panzerdivision only 10 miles from Dunkirk (plus 2.Panzerdivision and 6.Panzerdivision ready to tear up the coast) Hitler maintains his order to hold them in their current positions. At Calais, Heinz Guderian obediently, albeit frustratingly, ordered his tanks to halt per Hitler's orders, but the field commanders continued to push back the British and French troops. British and French forces fall back towards the Channel coast in an orderly retreat, covering each other's flanks, under pressure by Bock's Heeresgruppe B from the North and West. The Belgian forces are driven out of Menin by attacks of units from Heeresgruppe B. British Expeditionary Force uses the respite to reinforce defenses around Dunkirk, including the many canals. British Expeditionary Force commanding General Lord Gort decides to withdraw the BEF to Dunkirk, following assurances from War Minister Anthony Eden that naval and air forces would be available for an evacuation by sea. Gort cancels a planned advance to the south, and orders his troops north, so they could embark for England. French General Wegand cancels the planned Allied counteroffensive, blaming Gort for this decision. In fact the French forces on the Somme have not made any attacks, as has been claimed, and the French forces with the northern armies are in no condition to do so. On the same day, the French Army relieved 15 generals of their commands.

Despite Guderian's orders to leave Calais to the Luftwaffe, 10.Panzerdivision continues to attack. British and French defenders fall back but still hold the city and harbour, where small fishing and pleasure boats begin evacuating the wounded.

Hptm. Mölders, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 53, claims his eighteenth victory, a French Morane MS 406.

Trying to keep pace with the advancing German army, Hptm. Joachim Schlichting's I./JG 1 leave the temporary base at Guise-Nordost and settle in at Monchy-Breton while Hptm. Wolfgang Schnellmann's II./JG 2 transfer from Attenrode and settle in at Grandglise.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British Chiefs of Staff present a report to the War Cabinet entitled "British Strategy in a Certain Eventuality". If France collapses and German forces invade Great Britain, it is unlikely Britain could send naval forces to Singapore. In the event, the USA would have to be relied on to safeguard British interests in the Far East.

GERMANY: The first transport of prisoners arrived at the Mauthausen-Gusen Concentration Camp in occupied Austria region of southern Germany.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: "Béarn" made rendezvous with light cruisers "Jeanne d'Arc" and "Émile Bertin" in the Atlantic Ocean and transferred French central bank gold bullions to the light cruisers, which would carry them to Canada.

ASIA: Crown Prince Yi Un was made the commanding officer of the Japanese 4th Division.

NORTH AMERICA: A unit of the newly formed US Marine Corps Defense Battalions began the Minor Landing and Base Defense Exercise at San Clemente Island, California, United States.

NORTHERN EUROPE: A 1(F)./122 Heinkel performed morning recce to Namsos, following which aircraft from KGr 100 and KG 30 arrived in the area to attack a reported target. An RN Special Service vessel was attacked by a KG 30 aircraft off Harstad.


.

.

 

[parsifal]

25 May 1940 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RN CV ILLUSTRIOUS

Losses
ASW Trawler CHARLES BOYES (RN 290 grt) The naval trawler struck a mine in the Nth Sea off Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk and sank with the loss of at least 15 crew.

Lightship DYCK (Fr 500 grt) The lightship sank off Calais, Pas-de-Calais.

Tkr JOSEPH SEEP (Pan 7088 grt) Owned by the standard Oil Company, the ship was Panamanian registerd and Canadian manned to deliberately get around the Neutrality Act restrictions on shipping movements. She had begun her final voyage mid April, transporting 75000 barrels of oil to Le Havre. She experienced many difficulties as she passed through the Med, and was stuck unloaded at anchor at Le Havre from the 16 May. On the night of May 24-25, the Joseph Seep, with her Canadian crew of 37 officers and men, was still at anchor awaiting orders to discharge cargo. At about 3:30 a.m. on the 25th she was struck by a mine. Water poured into the forward compartments, the pumproom was flooded, and the vessel was going down by the head when the master gave the order to abandon ship. All crew were saved. : World War II: The tanker struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Le Havre, Seine Maritime, France.

Aux MSW LA JEANINE (Fr 49 grt) was bombed and sunk at Dunkerque.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Mobile Naval Base Ship MASHOBRA (RN 7,288 grt) was bombed and badly damaged in German bombing near Harstad, and run aground to prevent her from sinking. No men killed, but several, were wounded. She was scuttled on 8 June to prevent her being captured by German forces.

HMS MASHOBRA after being holed in the port side forward below the water line

ORP ORZEL (ORP 1100 grt) The submarine struck a mine and sank in the Nth Sea and sank with the loss of all 60 crew.

MV SPINEL (UK 650 GRT) The coaster was docked and unloaded her cargo dockside at Dunkirk, but was forced to be abandoned when fires on the dock engulfed her. All nine crew were rescued. She was salvaged by the Germans on 4 July and taken as a prize of war.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV TENNESSEE (Nor 5667 grt) The cargo ship was in collision with Baron Fairlie in the North Sea and was beached north west of Copinsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom. Salvage attempt were abandoned and she was declared a total loss. There were no casualties

DD VEGA, PV MALLARD, WIDGEON, SHELDRAKE, MSWs FITZROY, SUTTON, SALTASH departed Sheerness on the 24th with Blockship FLORENTINO (UK 1822 grt) and Blockship TRANSEA (UK 1499 grt) for Zeebrugge in Opn EF, also known as Operation LYSTER. PV SHEARWATER joined from convoy escort and relieved sloop WIDGEON shortly after sailing. MTB.15 and MTB.16 and MSW trawlers CLYTHNESS and LORD GREY also took part in this op. PV SHEARWATER attacked a sub contact enroute. The operation was a failure. FLORENTINO accidentally ran aground out of the channel and TRANSEA, not seeing the error, scuttled herself nearby. MTB 15 and MTB.16 took off the crews of the blockships. DD VEGA, sloops MALLARD, SHEARWATER, SHELDRAKE,MTB 14, MTB.15, most of the original force, less the MSWs, returned the night of 26/27 May with Blockship ATLANTIC GUIDE (UK 1943 grt) and Blockship BORODINO (UK 2004 grt) which were originally designated for Ostend, Operation DF. The blockships were sunk on the 27th and Zeebrugge harbour was blocked, their crews rescued by MTB.14 and MTB.15. DD VEGA escorting Ne sub O 13 off Zeebrugge was unsuccessfully attacked by DKM S Boats who erroneously claimed sinking both ships.
VEGA was also attacked by LW bombers and damaged by near misses. She was taken to Dover and repaired completing on 3 June.
MSW HARRIER, minesweeping off Zeebrugge, was attacked by the LW. One hit and five near misses badly damaged the MSW. The hit entered through the upper deck and passed out through the port side. HARRIER arrived in the Thames on the 27th was repaired completing on 9 July.

NO IMAGE FOUND]

Aux MSW TROMBE II (Fr 250 grt (est)) The auxiliary minesweeper was bombed and sunk at Dunkerque by the LW.

NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamers DAHLIA (SD 1078 grt), LYGIA (SD 1480 grt),and BRITA (SD 1345 grt) were seized by German forces at Bergen. DAHLIA was renamed JOHANNES WILLI in German service, LYGIA renamed MALMEDY, and BRITA renamed DESIDERIUS SIEDLER.
Konfiskerade

From left to right: DAHLIA, BRITA, no image found for the LYGIA

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel: U-122

At Sea 25 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-26, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-56, U-60, U-62, U-101.
10 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD KELVIN departed the Tyne after refit and repairs, arriving at Rosyth for tests on the DG range. Fr depot ship JULES VERNE and subs SYBILLE, CALYPSO, THETIS arrived at Dundee. Fr sub ACHILLE and ML POLLUX departed Rosyth for Cherbourg. Sub SEVERN departed Rosyth for patrol off Stadlandet.

SEVERN was a member of the Thames classe built 1934-5. They combined the role of patrol and fleet types and dislaced 2273 tons. They were among the first RN subs to use all welded hull construction, and thus avoided one of the main problems of earlier British designs, their propensity to leak

FN.180 departed Southend, escort sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 27th. MT.73 departed Methil, escort sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne, later that day. FS.179 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 27th.

Northern Waters
CV ARK ROYAL and CVL FURIOUS with DDs ANTELOPE, CAMPBELL, AMAZON, ENCOUNTER, VISCOUNT departed Scapa for the Clyde. Shortly after sailing, DD VOLUNTEER departed Scapa and relieved ENCOUNTER which proceeded to Rosyth for boiler cleaning and repairs. The Carrier gp safely arrived in the Clyde on the 26th. DD FURY and another DD departed Scapa to investigate Italian steamers BARBANA C. and ANDREA anchored in Saviskaill Bay, Westray Firth, Orkneys. ASW trawler HUGH WALPOLE had been ordered to this location on the 24th, but was unable to make contact due to very thick fog. The Italian steamers were escorted by FURY to Kirkwall for inspection. FURY arrived back at Scapa that evening. DDs BEDOUIN and FOXHOUND departed the Clyde for Scapa. En route, they conducted an ASW sweep from Nth Channel to Lower Minch, then from North Minch to Pentland Firth, arriving at Scapa on the 26th.

CL SOUTHAMPTON was near missed at Harstad, sustaining slight splinter damage. ASW trawler CAPE WARWICK reported making a strong contact at position 7.5 miles from Auskerry. After attacks on a stationary target, she proceeded to join her convoy and ASW trawler SCALBY WYKE was sent from Kirkwall to relieve her. ASW trawlers JUNIPER, HAZEL, WHITEHORN of ASW Gp 19 departed Scapa with oilers COWRIE and SYLVAFIELD and collier KIRKWOOD for the Clyde. A 2nd collier was to join them from Stornoway. MSW Gp 14 of MSW trawlers EPINE, THEIR MERIT, CARDIFF CASTLE, STAR OF ORKNEY departed Scapa Flow for Yarmouth.

German operation BIENE was successfully completed by 181 Inf XX against a British communications centre on Alsten Island near Mosjoen.

West Coast UK
DD WARWICK departed Greenock for Liverpool where she arrived on the 26th.

SW Approaches
OG.31F was formed from OA.153GF, which departed Southend on the 22nd escort DD MACKAY, OB.153GF, which departed Liverpool on the 22nd escort sloops ENCHANTRESS and LEITH, of 55 ships. Sub H.31 accompanied OA.153GF on passage to Portsmouth. Sloop ENCHANTRESS provided escort on the 25th. DD MACKAY provided escort from 25 to 27 May. Sloop LEITH provided escort from 25 to 28 May and then was detached to the inbound HG.32F. DD WATCHMAN joined on the 28th and escorted the convoy to Gib, where it arrived on the 30th.

 

[parsifal]

25 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS[CONT'D]
Channel
DD GREYHOUND was ordered to patrol between Dover and Calais and await orders. GREYHOUND and sister-ship GRAFTON suffered damage to their directors from LW near misses. Later, GREYHOUND bombarded the Calais suburb of St Pierre, but a German 3" bty east of Sangetti hit her once. 1 man was killed and 3 were injured. Both DDs returned to Dover before midnight. CLs GALATEA and ARETHUSA arrived at Sheerness. Early on the 25th, DD WOLFHOUND, after bombarding German targets off Calais, arrived at Calais to disembark ammunition for the British troops. Also aboard was Vice Admiral Somerville which had come to Calais to inform Brigadier Nicholson that there would be no evacuation from Calais. Late on the 25th, DDs VERITY and WINDSOR escorted the 6 MSWs, trawlers, yachts clearing the evacuation route to Calais. Captain Armed Patrol Boats was also in the area with six drifters. While at sea, the ships were ordered that the evac was cancelled and the DDs covered the MSWs' retirement. The ships returned to Dover and Harwich by dawn in the absence of orders. DD JACKAL that morning in predawn attacked a sub contact, and DDs GALLANT, JAGUAR, JAVELIN joined in the search for U.9, but without success. The sub escaped. MTB.22 from Harwich joined MTB.25 off Dover, then both proceeded to Dunkirk. The boats brought back 30 members of the Belgian govt. On arrival back at Dover, MTB.25 proceeded to Harwich.

UK-France
SA.42 arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

 

[parsifal]

25 May 1940 - RAF Operations
1 sqn (Hurri)
Two patrols of 5 a/c covered the line Bergeres to Brienne from 05.50 hours to 08.50 hours, and Le Chateau from 10.00 to 11.00 hours and saw nothing. A protection patrol for a french reconnaissance aircraft was carried out from 15.00 hours to 15.25 hours on the line Chauny-Laon at 16,000 feet, wich was as high as cloud would permit, no enemy a/c were seen, but 3 a/c were hit by very accurate A/A fire, which was continuous during the whole patrol. F/O Thom was seen to break away from the formation with smoke or petrol pouring from his aircraft, and he was last seen heading North into german occupied territory, where he was captured and spent the war as a PoW. Two other aircraft were holed by fragments of schrapnel. The patrol had been ordered for 45 mins. But after 25 mins. two of the formation, those who had been doing the 'cross-over' were on reserve, and the Flight was brought back to its base.

2 Sqn (Lysander)
Lysander KO-E returned damaged by AA fire over Béthune, 07.45 hrs. P/O (Pilot) E.N. Baker and LAC (Air Gunner) Galloway unhurt. Aircraft repairable Lysander KO-E returned slightly damaged by AA fire near Béthune, 11.30 hrs. F/O (Pilot) E.J.M. Lang and LAC C.W. Evans unhurt.

P/O (Pilot) Scotter and Leading Aircrafman (Air Gunner) C.W. Evans in KO-X were set on by fifteen Me 109's near Boulogne, but managed to escape and force-landed at Hawkinge at 17.40 hrs with considerable cannon fire damage to the cockpit, undercarriage, fuel tank and port wing. Aircraft repairable.

13 sqn (Lysander)
Corporal Stanley Mills, RAF 570908, 13 Sqdn., age 20, 25/06/1940, missing
Likely to be a ground crew member of the sqn. Date of missing actually unknown; 25/06/1940 was used as a kind of 'sweep up' date for all missing personnel.
He could have died during the final evacuation of France, in Operation Aerial.

15 sqn (Blen) Battle area, BEF - 1 plane lost; 3 KIA, Airborne 1027 from Wyton. Shot down near St-Inglevert (Pas-de- Calais), midway on the main road between Calais and Marquise, France.

17 sqn (Hurri) Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson damaged a Ju 87.

18 sqn (Blen) 1 plane lost; 2 KIA, 1 POW , undertaking a Recon Airborne from Watton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed in the vicinity of Abbeville

21 sqn (Blen) 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 1 POW . Ordered to attack the strategic Bridge crossing at Lys. Cause of loss not known. POW did not survive the war

40 sqn
Rety 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 1 POW, Airborne 1027 from Wyton to attack targets along the line Rety- Fienmnes-Guines. Shot down near Rety (Pas-de-Calais), 5 km ESE of Marquise,

49 sqn (Hurri)
1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 2 MIA. Operation details not available

54 sqn (Spit)
Missing from escorting Swordfish to Gravelines. 54 Sqn lost 3 Spits this day: N3096, N3103, N3188. The pilots of 2 were P/O JL ALLEN (rescued) and F/Lt DG GRIBBLE (safe, returned UK by ship). 1 plt MIA.

However P/O Gray shared in the destruction of another Me110 whilst escorting Allied bombers (Swordfishes) over Gravelines, but his Spit was badly damaged by fire both from enemy a/c and the ground. Deere had a similar experience while escorting ammunition ships into Dunkirk. His section of Spits were engaging 21 Me 110s and in the resulting melee he had his port wing partly shot away, whilst bringing down 2 110s. He afterwards reported tersely: "We saw enemy bombers attacking DDs off Calais. On going into attack, we were in turn set upon by Me 110s. Shot 1 down in flames after three bursts but immediately became sandwiched between 2 more, experiencing considerable fire. Steep turned and got on the tail of one of them and after 3 short bursts, both his engines commenced smoking and, losing height rapidly, he prepared to land north of Calais.' These were confirmed losses

103 sqn (Battle)
Abbeville, 1 a/c lost, crew safe
3 a/c took off before noon to attack an enemy column near Abbeville. It was not found but the a/c of Sgt Beardsley suffered engine failure and he crash-landed in a forward area. He rejoined the Sqn with his gunner, LAC G F Lewis, 2 days later having walked 27 miles and then hitched a lift on a motor cycle and side car. This was the 2nd time in 11 days these 2 airmen had been shot down and managed to get back to the Sqn.

 

[parsifal]

25 May 1940 - The BEF
Calais

At sunrise on the 25th there was vicious and intense fighting occurring in the approaches. Halt orders or not, this had virtually no effect, as the lead ele3ments of the German spearheads pushed on doggedly. There were strong enemy attacks mounted all along the Rifle Bdes frontage, from the sth of the perimeter, accompanied by a fierce artillery barrage. This was no "reconnaissance" it was a full assault of the allied positions. The Bde had a handful of ACs, Carriers and Lt Tks to support the infantry as most of 3 RTRs tanks had been destroyed , mostly by own foces when the evacuation order had been issued the previous day. Nicholson is rumoured to have muttered"what those tanks might have achieved does not bear contemplating".

The main assault delivered by the German Infantry was met with withering fire and was repulsed after suffering very heavy losses. The QVR were probably the finest marksmen in the British Army. For about 4 hours the enemy kept up the pressure, and with ammunition running short, the defenders began to yield ground. The Brigades line was pierced in several places, forcing the Bde to pull back to a reserve defensive position between the two dock basins. in the afternoon fighting ceased briefly while Schaal (10 Paz XX CO sent several demands for surrender, one of which was carried by the Mayor of Calais who feared for the safety of the citizens under the bombardment. These offers were refused. When the attack was renewed, the 60th Rifles held their lines, but the Rifle Brigade were forced back towards a large cellulose factory near the port. During the preceding night and the day, some drifters, yachts and other small craft had taken wounded from the harbour. No order to evacuate 30th Brigade was issued.

At 9pm, after dinner, Churchill, Eden and Ironside finally decided not to evacuate the troops at Calais at all. Churchill recorded feeling physically sick after making this decision, one of his first really hard decisions. The following signal was sent to Nicholson that night, although it is not certain that he ever received it.
"Every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the B.E.F. Government has therefore decided you must continue to fight. Have greatest possible admiration for your splendid stand. Evacuation will not (repeat not) take place, and craft required for above purposes are to return to Dover. Verity and Windsor to cover Commander Mine-sweeping and his retirement. Despite this final decision, Admiral Ramsey decided to make a small fleet available in case the circumstances changed again. On the night of 25-26 May a flotilla of small ships made their way into the harbour, rescuing the wounded and the survivors of the Royal Marine detachment sent to protect the naval demolition crews.

Between this decision and final surrender of the port came one more day of fighting.

Dunkirk
On 25th May there is a French counter-attack launched at 09h00 in the Saint-Georges area (north of Watten). It is led by commandant Miquel with the II/137e RI supported by 5 Hotchkiss H35 tanks. Despite the German artillery barrage and the attack of about 40 German aircrafts, the French troops advance, proceeded by the bombardment of the 5th battery of the 35e RA. At 12h00 the German troops of the "Grossdeutschland" regiment in Saint-Georges are forced to retreat and the town is taken. A new defensive line is deployed on the heights (on the railway) with communications with French troops on the left (I/137e RI in Bourbourg) and on the right (I/48e RI).

After the failure in front of Gravelines, the Germans attack now the area of Watten. The hill, the town itself and the woods south of Watten are heavily bombarded by the German artillery. At 16h00 the assault is led by the LSSAH regiment towards the south and the east of Watten, infiltrating in the Ham woods (south of Watten). The allies are encircled in Watten and fight for each house. Only the elements of the 59e GRDI, which are motorized, manage to break the encirclement but Capitaine Lemaire is heavily wounded.

The 21/110 in the woods of Ham is pulled back in the woods. Supported by reinforcements from the 59e GRDI coming from Lederzeele and thanks to the French artillery, the German advance is stopped. At the night the Germans have established a bridgehead east of the Aa canal and control Watten hill.

Allied Decisions and Direction
On the 25th, there was a meeting of the French war cabinet, in which much of the discussion centred not on the plight of the armies now encircled in the pocket but on the future conduct of the war after the inevitable sothern thrust by the germans. Weygand advised Renaud that has had discussed various options with Gen Georges, including a retreat sth of the Seine (and abandoning the Maginot position). Other options were discussed, but for the first time there were serious and extended discussions of reaching peace terms. The French automatically assumed the British would also follow suit if the French took the initiative to surrender. Weygand insited the British should be consulted immediately, But Petain, a man untarnished by the defeats and unfolding disaster overtaking France, had no obligation to a nation that had only contributed 10 divs to the campaign.

Immediately following there was a meeting between Reynaud and other memebers of his cabinet, and Churchill , Halifax, Eden , Chamberlain and Attlee. At that meeting the british delegation was informed that all hope of a French led relief was to be killed off. The French talked at some length of the need or possibility foir them to negotiate a separate peace. Churchill informed the French that British policy was to continue the fight regardless, and that the priority now would be to evacuate the BEF. The meeting as one would expected, was an unhappy one, particularly for the French.

At the same time, within the pocket, there were meetings between Blanchard (the new Army Gp CO) and Gort. It was from these meetings 25 and 26yj may that the final decisions to initiate the evacuation took place. Blanchard insisted that the current deployments being undertaken were to form what he called "a bridgehead covering Dunkirk in depth", to be undertaken with no thought of abandonment of the Dunkirk cauldron. Blanshards deployments were designed to pull the British and French Armies back to River Lys , with both armies pulling back to the Deule by the 27th and completing the remainder of the withdrawal 24 hrs later. The tottering Belgian army was to make "all possible effort" while this withdrawal was in progress. Gort agreed in principle, however he was soon to be provided with information that changed the situation.

When Gort returned to his HQ, he was handed a telegram from Anthony Eden. It informed him that there was now no possibility of a French relief effort from the south and went on: "Should thid prove to be the case you will b e faced with a situation in which the safety of of the BEF will be predominant. In such conditions your only course open to you may be to fight your way back west where all beaches and ports east of gravelines will be used for embarkation. RN will provide a fleet of ships and small boats and RAF wil give full support. As withdrawal may have to begin very early, plans should be urgently prepared". Whitehall had finally caught up to the reality they faced.

The tone of Gorts reply was pessimistic. "I must not conceal from you " he cabled "that a great part of the BEF and its equipment will be lost".

After the meeting with the French, Churchill instructed Eden to send another message to Gort confirming the call to move to the coast in preparation for evacuation.

 

[Njaco]

May 26 Sunday
WESTERN FRONT: Adolf Hitler rescinded the order to halt the offensive near Dunkerque. Army headquarters directs panzers to move south to attack across the Somme River. BEF's retreat around Lille, France, leaves a gap in the Allied lines exposing the French left flank and Belgian right flank to the Walther von Reichenau's 6.Armee. The Belgians fall back to the River Leie. The French 1st Army is essentially encircled.

200 German bombers and artillery pound the Citadel at Calais and German troops cross the canals forming the last Allied defensive line. At 1600 hours, Brigadier Claude Nicholson surrenders at the Citadel. British losses are 300 killed, 200 wounded evacuated by boat and 3500 taken prisoner. Thousands of French and Belgian troops are captured. German losses are 750-800 killed or wounded.

The position of the Belgian army is becoming increasingly grave. It is clear that it is unable to stay in the fight for much longer. The British forces are beginning to fall back on Dunkirk and in the evening the order is issued to begin 'Operation Dynamo', the evacuation from Dunkirk. Admiral Ramsay, who commands the Royal Navy forces based at Dover, is appointed to command the operation. The scope of the operation is not made clear to the local French commanders at first and they feel, with some justice, that they are being abandoned. At Dunkerque, British Expeditionary Force commanding General Lord Gort received the formal authorization for a withdraw. Operation Dynamo, the code name of the massive evacuation, was headed by British Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey. RAF Vice-Marshal Keith Park assigns 16 squadrons of No. 11 Group to protect the port. Meanwhile,

General Maxime Weygand issued his Ordre Général d'Operation No. 1184 3/FT:

"The battle on which the fate of the country depends will be fought without any idea of retreat, on the line which we hold today."

Major Gentzen of I./ZG 2 and Experte of the Polish campaign, is killed during an Alarm Start for an RAF raid on his air base at Neufchateau. While taking off, his Bf 110 clips trees and crashes. Due to the suddenness of the attack, Major Gentzen had forgotten to strap into his cockpit.

The Bf 109's of JG 27, in three Gruppen strength, escort Stuka dive-bombers of StG 77 and clash with British Spitfires over the Dunkirk beaches. The Messerschmitts of 2./JG 2 also escorting Stukas over Dunkirk, tangle with twenty Spitfires from RAF Nos. 19 and 65 Squadrons. The Staffel shoots down five of the British single-seat fighters. Major Hanns Trübenbach, Kommodore of JG 52 scores his first kill, a French Curtiss Hawk 75. Hptm. Balthasar of 1./JG 1 shoots down two more Spitfires of RAF No. 19 Squadron over Calais.

.

.

 

[Njaco]

May 26 Sunday (continued)
GERMANY: Wilhelm Keitel issues an order for the German Air Force to attack British food supplies, public services, and aircraft industry.

U-13 and U-48 leave dock at Kiel to join the growing fleet attacking Allied shipping around the British Isles.

NORTHERN EUROPE: German Ju 88 aircraft attacked and sank British anti-aircraft cruiser HMS "Curlew" off Narvik, Norway, killing 9. HMS "Curlew" was equipped with the only early warning radar set, depriving the Allies of early warnings of incoming aircraft.

An He 111 of 1(F)./122 was dispatched on a reconnaissance mission to Bodǿ and was attacked by F/L Hull in one of the newly arrived Gladiators that was patrolling over Saitefjord. The He 111 crashed south of Mo.

UNITED KINGDOM: In Britain, Empire Day was declared as a national day of prayer.

In the United Kingdom, General Sir John Dill became Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Sir Edmund Ironside became Commander-in-Chief of Home Defense. United Kingdom government also declared the coastal regions from Folkestone to Great Yarmouth designated evacuation areas.

MEDITERRANEAN: Benito Mussolini informed the Chief of Supreme Staff, Marshal Pietro Badoglio, and Governor of Libya, Marshal Italo Balbo, that he had told Adolf Hitler of his intentions to declare war on England and France after 5 June. Badoglio was horrified and protested vehemently that crippling shortages of equipment in the Italian Army made a such a military adventure a very risky business.

.

 

[parsifal]

26 May 1940
Losses
MV CERES (Fr 3079 grt) The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in the English Channel by the LW whilst enroute from from Rouen to Dunkerque.

CLA CURLEW (RN 4190 grt) en route to Skaanland, was badly damaged by air attacks by Ju88 a/c in Ofotfjord and run aground a total loss. 9 crewmen were killed. The survivors from CURLEW were ferried to DD BEAGLE which took them to Harstad.

Aux MSW DIJONAIS (Fr 389 grt) was bombed and sunk at Dunkerque by the LW.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Boom defense vessel LOCH SHIN (RN 255 grt) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. She was beached to try to prevent sinking, but capsized and sank in any case.

RFA OLEANDER (RN 6594 grt)The tkr was bombed off Harstad and beached. She was scuttled on 8 June to prevent her capture by German forces. The tanker's crew of 39 crew were all rescued.

MV SAINT CAMILE (Fr 3274 grt) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Nth Sea off Dunkerque.

MV VANSO (Ex-Nor 55 grt) The small motor transport, whilst transporting scrap from Stavanger to Oslo struck a mine laid by the Fr sub RUBIS and sank near Stavanger.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Dredger VOLKGRACHT IV (Be 300 grt) The dredger struck a mine and sank in the Zeebrugge Canal

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel: U-13, U-48

At Sea 26 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-13, U-26, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-48, U-56, U-60, U-62, U-101.
12 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD KELVIN departed Rosyth escorting NGAKAO and ARBROATH to Scapa. FORESIGHT departed Scapa on the 27th to assist. DD FORESIGHT and the two ships arrived at Scapa on the 28th. DD KELVIN had lost touch in the fog and arrived off Scapa after the visibility improved on the 28th as well, but separate to the group. KELVIN was joined by DD ZULU at Hoxa Entrance to screen CA SUSSEX for HA firings. The DDs returned to the harbour entrance later that evening. DD IVANHOE was damaged alongside an oiler at the Humber. The damage did not prevent the DD from continuing her duties.

Sub TETRARCH arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Subs SUNFISH and SEALION departed Harwich to patrol in the vicinity of Brown Ridge to protect British forces from interference by DKM forces. Sub STURGEON left her patrol area to reinforce these deployments. Sub TAKU departed Rosyth on the 27th to take over sub STURGEON's billet. Sub SALMON searched for a downed air crew in her area in the Nth Sea, due to no surface vessels being available for the duty.

There was some reorganization of the Submarine Flotillas. Fr subs CASABIANCA, SFAX, RUBIS were transferred to the SubFlot 10.
Subs SEVERN and CLYDE were transferred to Subflot 3. Sub PORPOISE was transferred to Subflot 6. Subflot 9 command was suspended at this time.

Northern Waters
CV GLORIOUS flew off Hurris of 46 Sqn ashore to the Harstad area for local defense duties. Late on the 26th, CL SOUTHAMPTON, CLAs COVENTRY and CAIRO, DDs FIREDRAKE, FAME, BEAGLE bombarded Narvik. CL SOUTHAMPTON was again splinter damaged by the near misses of LW LR bombers at Harstad. MSWs HEBE and SHARPSHOOTER of the MSW sqn 1 departed Scapa for Dover to replace damaged units in the MSW sqn 6.

FN.181 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 28th. MT.74 departed Methil, escort DD VANSITTART. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.180 departed the Tyne, escort DD VANSITTART. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.

West Coast UK
DD ESCORT departed Greenock for Plymouth.

Channel
CL GALATEA screened by DD GRAFTON departed Sheerness and bombarded German targets at Calais from 0700 to 1000. DDs WOLSEY and WOLFHOUND bombarded Calais as well. CL ARETHUSA departed Sheerness that afternoon. Screened by DD GRAFTON, the CL bombarded German targets later in the day until 2030 when poor visibility due to fog forced a halt to the bombardment. A Swordfish spotting for CL GALATEA was attacked by Me 109s. Two of the crew were unhurt but the 3rd member was thrown from the plane and lost during evasive manuevers. The a/c returned slightly damaged.

MSW MARETTA was damaged by the near misses at Calais. The MSW was towed by Dover by MSW KINGSTON GALENA. DD WILD SWAN made 2 trips to Dunkirk escorting Steamers MAID OF ORLEANS and CANTERBURY from Dover to Dunkirk. WILD SWAN departed Dunkirk early on the 27th escorting MAID OF ORLEANS, CANTERBURY, MONA'S QUEEN to Dover and Fr steamer ROUEN leaving for Cherbourg. Returning to Dover, WILD SWAN was damaged by a near miss which damaged her screws. She proceeded to Tilbury for repairs from 29 May to 4 June. DD WOLSEY was sent to Dunkirk to act as a W/T link.

MSWs SKIPJACK and HALCYON arrived at Dover during the afternoon. They were the only operational units of MSW Flot 6 at this time, and were very busy countering the contant mine efforts now being implemented by the LW. MSWs HUSSAR and HARRIER were bomb damaged and MSW SPEEDWELL was out of service due to defects.

Med- Biscay
A fire broke out on the AMC ASTURIAS, on the 26th. The fire took 35 hrs to control by local fire authorities and parties from DDs VELOX and VIDETTE. AMC CHESHIRE departed Gib, escort DD KEPPEL. The cruiser patrolled off Vigo.

Indian Ocean
With Italy entering the war at any time, ANZAC troop convoy US 3 was ordered to Capetown while still in the Indian Ocean, rather that risking a passage through the Red Sea. On 20 May, RAN CA CANBERRA of the US 3 escort was relieved by CA SHROPSHIRE.
CANBERRA returned to Australia. On the 26th, the convoy and her escorts arrived at Capetown. On the 31st, convoy US 3, less troopship EMPRESS OF JAPAN (26,032grt), departed Capetown with CAs SHROPSHIRE and CUMBERLAND for Freetown arriving on 7 June.